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James Farentino

James Farentino

Actor · Died January 24, 2012, aged 73 · Brooklyn, New York, USA

James Farentino was an American actor, with many appearances in film and television. He is better known for playing fisherman and apostle Simon Peter in the miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977), and revenge-seeking psychiatrist Dr. Nick Toscanni in the soap opera "Dynasty". He played the role of Toscanni from 1981 to 1982. Farentino was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He studied drama and acting in a Catholic school. He was frequently cast in guest-star roles in television through the 1950s and 1960s. His first recurring role was that of lawyer Neil Darrell in the legal drama "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" (1968-1972). He appeared in 19 of the series' 29 episodes. Farentino found critical acclaim in his role as Simon Peter in "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, but the award was instead won by rival actor Howard Da Silva (1909-1986). Farentino next found a notable recurring role in the soap opera "Dynasty" as psychiatrist Dr. Nick Toscanni. Originally introduced as an old friend of protagonist Blake Carrington (played John Forsythe), Carrington was eventually revealed as a secret enemy of Carrington who held a grudge against him. Toscanni's vengeful plots were among the main subplots of the series' second season, but he was then written out. In the 1990s, Farentino continued working an an actor, but he gained more notoriety for his personal life. In 1991 he was arrested for cocaine possession, and in 1993 he was charged with stalking his former girlfriend Tina Sinatra. Later he had a troubled marriage with his fourth wife Stella Farentino. In the 2000s, Farentino entered retirement from acting, due to health problems. In 2010, Farentino was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, because he tried to physically remove a man from his house. Farentino was briefly held by the Los Angeles Police Department. He was released after posting a 20,000 dollars bond. In January 2012, Farentino died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His death was caused from complications due to a right hip fracture. He was 73-years-old at the time of death, dying a full month before his 74th birthday.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
February 24, 1938
Died
January 24, 2012 (aged 73)
From
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 81 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 38% in 30 days

What are James Farentino's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
30%
Self
18%
Bonds
16%
Survival
15%
Power
9%
Ideas
8%
Society
5%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 8 · Dark 9

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 19 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 14 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 21 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 21
Shadow
5 of 21
Ally
3 of 21
Trickster
2 of 21
Shapeshifter
2 of 21
Mentor
1 of 21
Threshold guardian
1 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Melancholic
12
Dread
6
Warm
6
Contemplative
6
Other
22

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch James Farentino's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Farentino's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

81 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Women of the Night(2001)

    as Sabatini

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Last Producer(2000)

    as Poker Player

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Murder in the Mirror(2000)

    as Frank Russo

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Termination Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Cain

  • Bulletproof(1996)

    as Capt. Jensen

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Dazzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jimmy Rosemont

  • Dazzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jimmy Rosemont

  • ER(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ray Ross

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders(1994)

    as Jose Menendez

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Deep Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Joey

  • One Woman's Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Lieutenant Bill Lawson

  • When No One Would Listen(1992)

    as Gary Cochran

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Julie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Miles from Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as John Reilly

  • In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the Killing(1990)

    as Lt. Ray Wiltern

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Common Ground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Mayor Kevin White

  • Naked Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Jonathan Morris

  • Her Alibi(1989)

    as Frank Polito

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Who Gets the Friends?(1988)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Red Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Lieutenant Daniel Malone

  • The Secret of the Sahara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 4 episodes · as Caliph of Timbuktu

  • Family Sins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Gordon Williams

  • License to Kill(1984)

    as John Peterson

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • That Secret Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Sins(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as David Westfield

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 13 episodes · as Frank DeMarco

  • Picking Up the Pieces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Don Hagan

  • The Fourth Wise Man(1985)

    as Jesus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • A Summer to Remember(1985)

    as Tom Wyler

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Blue Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 11 episodes · as Frank Chaney

  • The Cradle Will Fall(1983)

    as Dr. Edgar Highley

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Something So Right (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Arnie Potts

  • Dead & Buried(1981)

    as Sheriff Dan Gillis

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Evita Peron(1981)

    as Gen. Juan Peron

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 22 episodes · as Dr. Nick Toscanni

  • The Final Countdown(1980)

    as Wing Commander Richard T. Owens

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love(1979)

    as Barry Kaufman

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Duffy Hambleton

  • No Margin for Error(1978)

    as Anderson

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Possessed(1977)

    as Kevin Leahy

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Jesus of Nazareth(1977)

    Show 4 episodes · as Simon Peter

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Crossfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Vince Rossi

  • The Elevator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Eddie Holcomb

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 3 episodes · as Charlie Czonka

  • Cool Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 5 episodes · as Jefferson Keyes

  • The Family Rico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Gino Rico

  • The Longest Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as John Danbury

  • Birdbath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Frankie Basta

  • Vanished (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gene Culligan

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Craig Lowell · as David Faulkner

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Story of a Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Bruno Cardini

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob

  • The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 27 episodes · as Neil Darrell

  • Me, Natalie(1969)

    as David Harris

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Whole World Is Watching(1969)

    as Neil Darrell

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Sound of Anger(1968)

    as Neil Darrell

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Banning(1967)

    as Chris Patton

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Rosie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as David Wheelright

  • The Ride to Hangman's Tree(1967)

    as Matt

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wings of Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Taff Malloy

  • The Pad and How to Use It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Ted

  • Death of a Salesman(1966)

    as Happy Loman

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The War Lord(1965)

    as Marc

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Frankie Metro

  • Laredo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Frazier

  • Ensign Pulver(1964)

    as Insigna

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Michael Simpson

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Rafe Carter

  • Violent Midnight(1963)

    as Charlie Perone

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernie · as Leo Manfred

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Colby · as Pick Lexington

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlo Rimini

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Fiore

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Calageras

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 81 titles from 1951 to 2001; peak year 1980.

Biggest box office

Bulletproof (1996)

$23M worldwide

Highest rated

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

19512001

Peak 1980 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1965Screen debut· The War Lord
  • 1981First top-billed film· Dead & Buried

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting81 of 81: 81 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1950s3 · acting1960s25 · acting1970s15 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 33% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do James Farentino's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Women of the Night (2001)

76th percentile spread · 52% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Midcredits 95th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is James Farentino's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 67 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles9–52 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does James Farentino work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Farentino's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Guy Stockwell shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles